The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-27

1895. that the most singular instance OF
this notable kind Of thing did occur. II
was there that a woman of health and
strength the most sound. did of a sudden
fall in n fit, the which was SO belize unto
death, that all did suspect naught other
wise, and did bury the same, with goodly
Christian rites as became them to do. And
this of all innocency; for they could not
know what was afterward revealed, that
this poor soul was alive at her burial, and
did unwlllingly suffer the same, and the
death with which God did thereafter, in
the ground, mercifully deliver her-she be-
ing dumb, and of no motion"
The book dropped from my hand as
read. and started to my feet, the cold per-
SEPARATION bursting forth from every pore.
One horrible, ruling thought was busy at
my brain, planted there by what demon
knew not. Was IL not possible that such
was the condition of her had that day
buried? Horror of horrors impossible
improbablel
The thought, the fancy, the bare suppo-
sition of such fact was fearful in the ex-
treme; and yet, when | fearfully probed il
to lis source, l was startled, electrified. TO
discover that it proceeded no more from
the chance reading of the passage l have
quoted, than from a consciousness of its
nected with the supposed decease of Edna,
with its mystery, with those tell-tale symp-
toms of languor TO which | have averted,
now came surging upon my mind, carrying
with them almost the force of conviction
The thought staggered and stupefed me,
until, with the revulsion, l sprang up, fully
resolved to act upon the doubt thus
strangely suggested TO me, and at least to
satisfy myself of its utter falsity.
Hatless and distracted, l secretly left the
house. and, procuring a lantern, / moved
cautiously toward the cemetery. The moon
shone with splendor in an unclouded
heaven, as | stole my way among the col
umns of the old cathedral that held the
family vaults. Entering the solemn re-
ceptacle of the dead, l soon found the
sarcophagus containing the remains of my
beloved, and fastened to tear away the lids
that concealed her from my sight.
Frantic thoughts impelled my nervous
arms thoughts that each moment might
jeopardize her safety, and that | should
find her alive, and exultingly snatch her
from her place of horrors. Almost craZed
with my emotions, / toiled energetically,
until, at last. opening the coffin, / sank
down beside it, weak and powerless. What
was the revelation | was about TO make?
Was it replete with Joy, or with misery?
Mumuring prayer for strength to bear
that revelation, be it what it might, L arose
to my feet, and, holding my lantern over
the coffin, / gazed upon the features of my
Edna.
Merciful God, what a sight was that
which there greeted my horror dilated eyes!
That brief prayer was surely heard, or l
should have never left that place of tombs
alive. BY the faint light of the lantern,
saw the corpse of Edna within the coffin,
turned over upon one side, the hands
clutching the shroud, which enveloped the
form, with the tenacious grasp of death and
despair; and the face distorted with fear
ful convulsion, which plainly told Of per-
feet consciousness of the dark doom which
had now surely visited the unhappy sleeperl
"
turn with unmitigated loathing from the
books which l once studied with pleasure
and profit; lend a deaf ear to the entreat-
les from the world without, which reach me
here in my loneliness, TO come forth from
my retirement and re-enact the part which
lent such luster to my youth. | have
come to regard my bereavement as pun
ishment of the vainglorious pride of heart
with which L formerly regarded my achieve
ments in my profession, while from my
heart goes up necessarily the mocking, de-
spairing cry, "Thou vast great, thou vast
learned and vet she digdp